Thursday, August 18, 2011

If You Walk, Just Walk, If You Sit, Just Sit...

"If you walk, just walk, if you sit, just, whatever you do, don't wobble." This famous saying by zen master Unmon explains the idea of mindfulness. It is about being present and fully aware of what we are doing in this very moment. Mindfulness is the opposite of multi-tasking. It puts our focus on the one activity we are carrying out at that very moment, and thus bundles our energy. Instead of being distracted by a multiple of thoughts, tasks and emotions, we are able to fully concentrate on each activity.

Stress arises when we or others expect us to achieve more than we can actually perform. Stress is aggrevated when we try to juggle all those different tasks having even less time and energy to accomplish each one of them.

Think about it like this: how good are your results when you try to cook, phone, email and watch the news at the same time as supposed to carry out each task separately and mindfully?

But it is not only about results it is also about the intensity with which we experience our lives. We live more fully when we use all our senses. So when you cook do you feel the fresh ingredients, smell their flavour and see their shape, colour and texture?

Mindfulness isn't some complicated, mystic practice it is rather a way of life that is more focussed, more rich in experiences and more truthful. It helps us to stay grounded, balanced and awake.

Our breath is a great tool to bring us back to that mindfulness. So we can use our formal and informal breathing practice to generate a greater awareness and alertness to what is happening in this very moment.

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About Me

Hi, my name is Amy and I am teaching meditation and mindfulness to people who are looking for more inner peace, relaxation and stress reduction.
I am concerned about the fact that more and more people suffer from stress, burnout and depression due to high work volume, work or relationship related frustration and an ever-increasing speed of life.
I have been meditating for some years and experiencing the amazing benefits of meditation and mindfulness. Personally, I have become more balanced, aware and life-loving. From my personal experience grew the desire to transmit my knowledge to others and improve their well-being.
I am currently continuing my education as a meditation and MBSR teacher and am very passionate about teaching individuals how to meditate and integrate mindfulness into their everyday lives. My approach is secular, contemporary and not esoteric. My classes are targeted to people who want to learn and practice meditation and mindfulness outside of any spiritual and religious context.
I teach in German and English.
If you want to try out meditation or just receive additional information, please contact me via email: meditationwithamy@gmail.com